Bathtub chair



J. HOFF BATHTUB CHAIR Sept 17, 1957 Filed April 26, 1956 INVENTOR. JONATHAN HOFF AGENT United States Patent BATHTUB CHAIR Jonathan Holf, Forest Grove, Oreg.

Application April 26, 1956, Serial No. 580,756

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention pertains to chairs adapted for use in bathtubs, and relates particularly to the novel construction of a chair for use in bathtubs by persons required to take sitting baths in the treatment of rectal, spinal and other disorders.

In the treatment of such disorders as are enumerated above, the patient is required to sit for extended periods of time in heated water. For effective bathing, the patient should be positioned in such manner as to permit circulation of the water in direct contact with the afliicted areas. Moreover, to promote maximum comfort for the patient it is desirable that the unaffected areas of the body be permitted to remain out of the water. Still further, since such patients generally are aged or at least physically weakened, it is necessary to insure maximum safety for the patient during the baths.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a chair adapted particularly to support a patient within a bathtub with maximum comfort and safety and in proper position for effective bathing.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a bathtub chair which may be mounted removably within a bathtub and yet is completely stable, thereby assuring maximum safety for the patient.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a bathtub chair which is of lightweight construction, affording installation in and removal from a bathtub with maximum facility.

Still another important object of this invention is the provision of a bathtub chair which is of simplified construction for economical manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a foreshortened sectional view in side elevation of a bathtub showing mounted therein a chair embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the chair shown in Figure 1, with the resilient seat cushion removed; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1, showing the chair in front elevation, with the seat cushion removed.

The chair of the present invention includes a seat section 10, and a back rest section 12. These sections preferably are formed as an integral unit by properly bending or molding a single sheet of structural material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, synthetic plastic, or other suitable material. Secured to and extending transversely of the back rest section 12 adjacent the upper end thereof is an elongated support member 14. This member is secured at its opposite ends, as by means of brackets 16, to the vertical sections 18, 20 of the laterally spaced side support arms, at positions forwardly of the rearward ends of said arms.

Each of the support arms is angular in cross section, being formed to provide a horizontal section 22, 24 extending laterally outward from the upper edge of the associated vertical section 18, 20, respectively. The laterally spaced support arms are of substantial length, extending from a point rearwardly of the back rest section 12 and terminating at their forward ends adjacent the forward edge of the seat cushion 10. In the event that the vertical and horizontal sections of the support arms are made of metal, the under surfaces thereof preferably are provided with strips 26 or coverings of protective material, such as wood, rubber, plastic, or other suitably soft substance, for purposes explained more fully hereinafter.

A strap 28 is secured intermediate its ends to the underside of the seat section 10 adjacent the forward edge thereof, and the opposite ends of the strap extend upwardly from the side edges of the seat section and are secured to the vertical sections 18, of the support arms adjacent the forward ends of the latter. In this manner the forward end of the seat section is supported by the forward ends of the support arms.

An elongated bar 30 is secured at its opposite ends to the horizontal sections 22, 24 of the laterally spaced support arms at the rearward ends of the latter. This bar is positioned rearwardly of the transverse support member 14, and thus functions to prevent the forward ends of the support arms from being drawn together under the weight of a person supported upon the seat section 10.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing, the chair is adapted to be mounted within a bathtub 32 in the following manner: The chair is proportioned in such manner that the distance between the downwardly projecting vertical sections 18, 20 of the laterally spaced support arms is slightly less than the distance between the sides 34 of the bathtub at the upper longitudinal edges of the latter. In addition, the distance between the horizontal sections 22, 24 of the support arms and the seat section 10 is proportioned to be about two inches less than the depth of the tub. Thus, the chair is mounted within the bathtub with the horizontal sections of the laterally spaced support arms resting upon the upper longitudinal edges of the bathtub, whereby the seat section 10 is supported within the tub a spaced distance above the bottom 36 of the latter.

The seat section 10 is provided with an enlarged opening 38 therein to permit the circulation of water up through the seat to the area of the body being treated. As indicated in Figure l, the comfort of the patient may be enhanced by providing a resilient ring-shaped cushion 40 which is placed upon the seat section with the central opening in the cushion registering with the opening 38 in the seat section 10.

It will be noted that the seat section 10 and back rest section 12 are supported from the laterally spaced support arms forwardly of the rearward ends of the latter, with the seat section disposed a substantial distance below the arms. In this manner the chair is rendered completely stable, and the possibility of the chair being tipped backwardly is obviated.

The chair may be adjusted to any desired position along the length of the bathtub. For example, if it is desired that the patients legs and feet be immersed in the water, the level of which is indicated at 42, the chair may be positioned near the rearward end of the tub. On the other hand, if it is desired that the patients legs and feet be elevated out of the water, the chair may be positioned to accommodate support of the feet against the forward end of the tub.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the details of construction described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is primarily illustrative of the invention and is not to be considered as limiting the scope thereof.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bathtub chair, comprising a seat section, a back rest section integral with and extending upwardly from the seat section, laterally spaced support members each having a substantially vertical section disposed for reception between the sides of a tub and a substantially horizontal laterally projecting section proportioned and ar ranged to engage an upper side edge of the hub, means securing the back rest section adjacent its upper end to the support members forwardly of the rearward ends of the horizontal sections thereof, and means securing the forward end of the seat section to the forward ends of the vertical sections of the support members, the seat section being disposed with respect to the horizontal sections of the support members such that the seat may be positioned above the bottom of the tub a substantial distance below the upper side edges thereof.

2. A bathtub chair, comprising a perforated seat section, a back rest section integral with and extending upwardly from the seat section, laterally spaced elongated support members each having a substantially vertical section disposed for reception between the sides of a tub and a substantially horizontal laterally projecting section proportioned and arranged to engage an upper side edge of the tub, means securing the back rest section adjacent its upper end to the support members forwardly of the rearward ends of the horizontal sections thereof, and means securing the forward end of the seat section to the forward ends of the vertical sections of the support members, the seat section being disposed with respect to the horizontal sections of the support members such that the seat may be positioned above the bottom of the tub a substantial distance below the upper side edges thereof.

3. A bathtub chair, comprising a perforated seat section, a back rest section integral with and extending upwardly from the seat section, laterally spaced elongated support members each having a substantially vertical section disposed for reception between the sides of a tub and a substantially horizontal laterally projecting section proportioned and arranged to engage an upper side edge of the tub, means securing the back rest section adjacent its upper end to the support members forwardly of the rearward ends of the horizontal sections thereof, strap means securing the forward end of the seat section to the forward ends of the vertical sections of the support members, and brace means interconnecting the rearward ends of the support members, the seat section being disposed with respect to the horizontal sections of the support members such that the seat may be positioned above the bottom of the tub a substantial distance below the upper side edges thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,953 McCollurn Feb. 11, 1930 2,216,818 Kuhlman Oct. 8, 1940 2,242,939 Buckel May 20, 1941 2,516,557 Frazee et al July 25, 1950 

